A JAPANESE pensioner Yasup Okamoto, who resides in Penang under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) retirement scheme, has come to the aid of his home country by making pottery to raise funds for the victims of the twin natural disasters.

Japan is now stricken by the aftereffects of the major quake and tsunami disasters.

The 70-year-old pottery maker, who has been living here the last five years with his wife, Eiko Okamoto, 64, managed to design and make 30 pottery items for a fund raiser organised by Malaysian-Japanese Society and Cititel Penang on Sunday.

The Okamotos’ pottery items were sold for between RM5 and RM400 per piece and at the close of the day, they managed to raise RM3,500.

Helping out: Crowds going through items at the various stalls during the fund raiser

“The RM3,500 included art pieces painted by my wife and sold at the event,” he said.

Yasup said even though he was not able to contribute much to his nation, “every single process of making the pottery items is my expression of care towards the victims who are dealing with hardship in Japan. Hopefully they can overcome the challenges soon”.

Organising chairman Jessie Tan said RM20,000 was raised from the eight-hour charity sale. The proceeds will be channelled to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

Other items sold at the event included Japanese handicraft, food, books, posters, second hand goods, toys, accessories, paintings, origami and items for the Japanese tea-drinking ceremony.

All the items were contributed by organising members and hotel staff.

Penang Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang who launched the event later handed a RM5,000 mock cheque on behalf of the Penang Bon Odori Committee to Consul-General of Penang Tetsuro Kai.

“The sum was raised during the ticket sales for last year’s Bon Odori festival ,” he said.

Writer Ooi Boon Kai, 31, who was with his wife and children at the charity sales, said he knew about it after being informed by his friend who is a member of Malaysian-Japanese Society.

“I bought some toys and snacks for my sons. I hope I am helping the victims by spending a bit here.”